Compare towns
Dummerston vs Fairlee vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Dummerston | Fairlee | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,090Highest |
1,066Lowest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
| Fairlee and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
| Dummerston and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
| Dummerston and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
| Dummerston and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 10% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.